Bread pakora is one of the yummiest party starter. I love making it when someone is coming home. Best part is you can make it whenever you have too much bread. Pakode or spiced gram flour fritters is an easy starters. Everyone loves making this street food at home.
We all love fried food. They are a perfect tea time snack. Although deep fried food is not good if taken on daily basis, having it once a while is not a problem. I have also updated an air fryer version below if you like to make them yet cannot help counting your calories.
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Pakode is a crowd favorite. People of all age groups love it. We make lots of pakoras in India. Be it double fried, onions, potatoes or mixed veg. These days non vegetarians even make chicken pakoda. Basically anything dunked in a gram flour batter and fried to perfection makes people happy.If you are travelling, you can just have fritters with bread.My mum even serves them with roti as a meal. Onion fritters can later be dunked in a kadhi for main course. Just serve it with rice. Punjabi kadhi pakoda makes lunch easy, if you like your yogurt. Just have some kadhi and sleep is guaranteed. Some people love the baked version too. If you have nothing at home and guests are coming over ,just go on and make some. Everyone loves it especially in rains and winter. Nothing like fritters and tea.
Thus, this recipe will always be special to me. They are my pick-me up when I am down. As each plate comes with so many fond memories!
Sharing this recipe so that you can make some too.
They are perfect when it rains or when its cold or when you are just not in a mood to cook something elaborate. Below I have given both the traditional as well as the air fryer version so that everyone can enjoy the recipe.
Ingredients
- Besan/gramflour/chickpea flour (red lentil flour for air fryer version)
- Slices of brown/white bread slices
- Mashed potato mix with salt and spices
- Green chutney
- Tomato Ketchup/Tamarind chutney/spicy pickle masala
- Baking soda
- Turmeric powder
- Red chili powder
- Salt as per taste
- Oil for frying
Equipment
- Whisk
- Kadai for traditional frying
- or Air fryer for low oil option
How to make bread pakora?
Below are the steps to make the fritters in the traditional method by frying them.
- Spread chutney on the bread slices. (Make sure you do not keep them for long before frying else it gets soggy)
2. Add the potato mix on slice. Cover with another slice. Cut them diagonally so that it looks like triangles.
3. Meanwhile, keep 2 tbsp. gram flour aside in a plate. Mix ¾ cup of besan with spices, baking soda and water to make a thick batter. Dip the bread sandwich in dry besan first and then in the besan batter.
4. Deep fry them in hot oil until golden brown, evenly on both sides.(for air fryer, refer steps below)
5. Serve them hot with chutney
How to make bread pakora in air fryer?
Can we make bread pakora in air fryer ? if you are looking for any answer to this questions, then below are the steps to make the fritter in air fryer.
One feedback that I received was to use roasted besan, i think that might help remove any rawness if you feel any.
If you can get red lentil flour (masoor dal flour), then it works much better , you can replace besan with red lentil flour for airfryer recipe and it does not leave the uncooked taste.
Another feedback was to use little sooji(semolina) for more crispy texture, I tried that and it did help.
- Follow 1-3 to make the bread pakoras. Make a thin batter (equal quantity of besan and water) and dip the bread pakoda in the batter
2. Allow the excess batter to drip by placing it on a wire rack.
3. Pre heat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 180 deg C| 355 deg f. Place all the slices in a pre heated air fryer on top of a perforated baking sheet (baking sheet with holes) . Air fry for 8-9 minutes
4. Remove the parchment paper/baking sheet,Flip the fritters ,brush with oil and continue to cook for 5-6 minutes or until cooked.
5. Serve bread pakora hot with chutney or sauce.
More air fryer recipes
If you are looking for more Indian air fryer recipes, read few of them there
Read the full list of our air fryer Indian vegetarian recipes here.
Variation
You can make the fritters without the chutneys. Add a pickle masala on one side if you like it hot and spicy. You may only add a tomato sauce on the bread if making for kids who cannot handle too much spice. You may even omit sauce. It depends on what you like, these fritters can be customized. You may omit the potato stuffing too if in a rush. Just dip bread in chickpea batter and fry it. Add a teaspoon of garam masala powder, amchur or dry mango powder instead to the batter so that you get the tangy flavor.
Need more frittter recipes?
Traditional Bread Pakoda and Bread pakoda in air fryer
Equipment
- kadai/frying pan (traditional method)
- air fryer for low oil version
- whisk
Ingredients
- 1 cup besan/gramflour/chickpea flour red lentil flour for airfryer variant gives better results
- 6 slices of brown/white bread slices
- 1 Pinch of baking soda
- 1 cup of mashed boiled potatoes with salt and half of spices below
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder or as per taste
- 1 teaspoon salt
- water same quantity as besan
- Tomato Ketchup/Tamarind chutney/Pickle masala
- Green chutney
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- Spread chutney on the bread slices.
- Add the potato mix on slice,cover with another slice.
- Cut the bread sandwich diagonally in 2 equal sizes.
- Meanwhile,keep 2 tbsp. besan aside in a plate.
- Mix remaining besan with spices,baking soda and water to make a thick batter.
- Dip the bread sandwich in dry besan first and then in the besan batter.
For traditional method (frying)
- Fry in hot oil on both sides.
For low oil air fryer version
- Make a thin batter (equal quantity of chickpea flour/besan and water) with little sooji (semolina)
- Dip the bread slices in batter, Allow the excess batter to drip by placing it on a wire rack.
- Place the pakora on the air fryer basked which is already lined with parchment paper. The baking paper should have holes in it.
- Pre heat the air fryer at 180C for 5 minutes.
- Place all the slices on the air fryer basket,spray/brush oil
- Air fry the bread pakora for 8-9 mins at 180 deg C.
- Remove the parchment paper/baking sheet, flip the fritters ,brush with oil and continue to cook for 5-6 minutes or until cooked.
- Cut the pakoda from center to check for any rawness, if there is still some rawness, cut all of them in 2 pieces, brush oil and cook for few minutes.
- Serve hot with mint chutney and tomato ketchup.
Notes
Nutrition
faq
Mint chutney, tamarind date chutney and even tomato ketchup.
If the oil is too hot, it will not cook from inside. If it is too cold, it will soak a lot of oil. Always cook on medium flame.
Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C). Discard food if it smells rancid.
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
- Wash hands after touching raw meat.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
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